Handled cartons, including collapsible handle cartons



Sept. 11, 1956 K. T. BUTTERY 2,762,555

HANDLED CARTONS, mcwnmc COLLAPSIBLE HANDLE CARTONS Filed July 12, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 11, 1956 K. T. BUTTERY 2,762,555

HANDLED CARTONS, INCLUDING COLLAPSIBLE HANDLE CARTONS Filed July 12, 1954 I a Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

him 5?? United States Patent "ice 2,762,555 HANDL'ED' CARTONS, INCLUDING coLLArsinLE HANDLE CARTONS Kenneth T. Buttery, KalamazodgMich assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kal'amazoo, Mich;

Application July 12, 1954-, serial No. 442,616"

'14 Claims. Cl. 229-52 I This invention relates to handled cartons including collapsible handle cartons. I

The main objects of this invention are: I

I First, to provide a collapsible carton having .a handle formedinte'grally therewith and" in which the handle in the erected carton is positioned for convenient grasping but lies fiat on the top' of the closed carton. I I

Second, to provide a collapsible handled carton formed of an integral blank and in which the carton does not requ'ire substantial additional stock over what would be required if the handle were not present.

Third,- to provide a carton having these advantages in which the loader weight on the handle acts to urge the closed cover into engagement with the'coactirig retaining parts. I I I Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which may be econornically' produced and may be readily erected and rapidly opened and closed as desifed Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear fromthe description to follow. The

' invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a closed carton embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of the carton illustrating the relationship of the handle to the cover and other parts and the retaining engagement of the cover with other parts. I I I I Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view with parts' br o'ken away and in section illustrating certain of the structural details. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view partially in horizontal section. I I I I I I I I II Fig". 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton is formed. I I I I Fig. 7 is a front plan view of the collapsed carton.

I Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front perspective view illustratinIg certain steps in the manipulating of the carton.

Fig.9 is a front perspective view illustrating another step in the closing of the carton. I

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a further or succeeding step in the closing of the cover.

Fig. 11 is a perspectiveview of a modified form or embodiment of my invention with the cover partially closed.

In the description and in certain of the claims I use the term front, rear, and end Walls for convenience in description and defining the relation of the parts' but Without limitations as to relative dimensions and shape as t l IHt iS unimportant. I I

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my invention as embodying a front wall 1, rear wall 2 and end walls 3 and 4 disposed in alignment of the blank and connected by the hinging scores 5. The glue flap. 6 is hingedly connectedto the wall 2 at 7 and adhesively's'ecared toth'e wa114.

Patented Sept. 11,- 1956 The self erecting bottom illustrated-is substantially that of my Patent No. 2,677,494 issued May 5, 1954, and comprises the bottom members 88 hingedly connected to the front and rear Walls at 9. The triangular bottom members 10 are hingedly secured to the end walls at 11 and provided with sealing flaps 12 hingedly connected thereto by the scores 13. These flaps 12 are. adhesively secured to adjacent bottom members 8. The opposed bottom members 8 have interlocking tongues 14 and 15 on their swinging edges. The bottom members are collapsed within the walls when the carton is in collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 7. The collapsed carton may be erected by pressing on the opposed edges. I I I I The cover 16 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall 2 by the hinging score 17 and is provided with a tucking Help 18 hingedly connected thereto at 19. End portions of the tucking flap are severed from the cover by t he'slits 20 which results in locking tabs 21 which coact with the inner closure members 22 which are'hing'edly connected to the upper edges of theend walls at 23. I

The strap-like handle member 24 is connected at its ends to the swinging ends of the closure members 22 by the diagonal hinging scores 25. This handle member has pairs of parallel folding scores 26 spaced to correspond to the length of the cover. The end edges 27 of the cover are ins'et' somewhat from the plane of hinging scores 5 and '7, as is best shown in the blank Fig. 6. The contents of the carton are indicated at 28'.

After the carton is filled which may be done with the inner closure members or flaps and the cover in upright position, as shown in Fig. 8; the inner closure members are partially closed or swung inwardly and the handles partially erected on the hinging score lines and the cover inserted under the grip portion of the handle and over the portions 29 thereof between the hinging score 25 and the outer of the scores 26. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 10, the cover is merely pressed down to closed position and the tucking flap positioned within the front wall. This closing is facilitated by the beveled edges 31 of the inner closure members 22 and when the cover is in completely closed position the locking' tabs 21 engage below the front edge portions 31 of the closure members 22, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the cover is closed the portions 29 of the handle arein superimposed relation to the closure members 22 and underlie the cover. The transverse scores 26 enable the handle to be readily folded around the end edges 22 of the cover with the grip portion of the handle overlying the handle.

As is illustrated in Fig. 3, the load upon the handle tends to bow the cover transversely and this draws the locking tabs 20 inwardly and maintains them in locking position or in locking engagement with the closure mem-' bers. It will be noted by reference to theblank in 6 that the handle does not add anything to the amount of stock to be required to form the remaining parts; In the modification shown in Fig. 11 the closure member 32 corresponding to the closure members 22 are scored at 33 to provide hinging flaps 3 to which the handle mem her is connected by the hinging scores 35 corresponding to the scores 25 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. I

In this embodiment the hinging. flaps 34 of the closure members are folded inwardly as the closure members I32 are swung or adjusted to closed position and this permits the handle member swinging rearwardly farther than is possible with the handle connected as in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive. This facilitates somewhatthe passing of the cover under the grip portion of the handle. However, the par-ts function in the same relation to each other as that described.

The bottom structure illustrated is of advantage as the bottom is automatically erected on the erecting of the side Walls from collapsed position as shown in Fig. 7. I have not illustrated various other forms or adaptations of my invention as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p 1. A collapsible handled carton formed of an integral cut and scored blank comprising hingedly connected front, rear and end walls having collapsibly associated bottom member, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and having a tucking flap hingedly connected to its swinging edge, said tucking flap having locking tabs at the ends thereof, closure flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end walls and positioned within the cover when the cover is closed, a strap-like handle member integral with and connected to said closure flaps centrally thereof by diagonally disposed hinging means, said handle member having pairs of parallel transverse scores spaced to correspond approximately to the length of the cover, the portion of the handle between pairs of scores constituting a grip whereby when the carton is erected and the cover is closed the portions of said handle between its said diagonal connections to said closure flaps and said transverse scores are disposed outwardly over the closure flaps and below the cover with the grip portion of the handle above the cover and said locking tabs are in engagement with the front edges of the closure flaps whereby load on the handle acts to bow the cover transversely thereof and urge and maintain the said locking tabs into engagement with said closure flaps.

2. A carton comprising front, rear and end walls, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and having a tucking flap hingedly connected to its swinging edge, said tucking flap having locking tabs at the ends thereof, closure flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end walls and positioned within the cover when the cover is closed, a strap-like handle member integral with and connected to said closure flaps centrally thereof by diagonally disposed hinging means, said handle member having transverse scores spaced to correspond approximately to the length of the cover, the portion of the handle between said transverse scores constituting a grip whereby when the carton is erected and the cover is closed the portions of said handle between its said diagonal connections to said closure flaps and said transverse scores are disposed outwardly over the closure flaps and below the cover with the grip portion of the handle above the cover and said cover locking tabs are in engagement with the front edges of the closure flaps whereby load on the handle acts to bow the cover transversely thereof and urge and maintain the said locking tabs into engagement with said closure flaps.

3. A collapsible handled carton formed of an integral cut and scored blank comprising hingedly connected front, rear and end walls having collapsibly associated bottom members, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and having a tucking flap hingedly connected to its swinging edge, closure flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end walls and positioned within the cover when the cover is closed, a strap-like handle member integral with and foldably connected to said closure flaps, said handle member having transverse scores spaced to approximately correspond to the length of the cover, the portion of the handle between said transverse scores constituting a grip, the portions of said handle between its said connection to said closure flaps and said transverse scores, when the cover is closed, being disposed outwardly over the closure flaps and below the cover with the grip portion of the handle above the cover, said cover tucking flap when in closed position being in engagement with the closure flaps.

4. A carton formed of an integral cut and scored blank comprising front, rear and end walls having collapsibly associated bottom members, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and having a tucking flap hingedly connected to its swinging edge, closure flaps hingedly connected to the upper edges of the end walls and positioned within the cover when the cover is closed, a strap-like handle member integral with and foldably connected to said closure flaps and having transverse scores, the portion of the handle between said transverse scores constituting a grip, the portions of said handle between its said foldable connection to said closure flaps and said transverse scores, when the cover is closed, being disposed outwardly over the closure flaps and below the cover with the grip portion of the handle above the cover, said cover tucking flap when in closed position being in engagement with the closure flaps.

5. A carton comprising front, rear and end walls, top closure flaps connected to the upper edges of the end walls, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and provided with a tucking flap and with slits at the ends of the tucking flap adapted to receive portions of the front edges of the closure flaps when the cover is in closed position over the closed top closure flaps, and a straplike handle member integral with said closure flaps and hingedly connected to the swinging ends thereof and having portions foldable outwardly above the closure flaps and disposed below the cover when it is in closed position with another portion of the handle member above the cover constituting a grip, the load upon the handle acting to bow the cover transversely and maintaining the cover tucking flap in supporting engagement with the closure flaps.

6. A carton comprising front, rear and end walls, top closure flaps connected to the upper edges of the end walls, a cover and a strap-like handle member integral with said closure flaps and hingedly connected to the swinging ends thereof and having portions foldable outwardly above the closure flaps and disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and below the cover when it is in closed position with another portion of the handle member above the cover constituting a grip.

7. A ca-rton comprising front, rear and end walls, top closure flaps connected to the upper edge of the end walls, a cover hingedly connected to the rear wall and provided with a tucking flap engageable with the closure flaps when the cover is in closed position, and a strap-like handle member integral with said closure flaps and connected to the swinging ends thereof, end portions of said handle being foldable outwardly above the closure flaps and disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and below the cover when it is in closed position with a portion of the handle member above the cover constituting a grip, the load upon the handle acting to bow the cover transversely and maintaining the cover tucking flap in supporting engagement with the closure flaps.

8. A carton comprising front, rear and end walls, top closure flaps connected to the upper edge of the end walls, a cover and a strap-like handle member integral with said closure flaps and connected to the swinging ends thereof, end portions of said handle being foldable outwardly above the closure flaps and disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and below the cover when it is in closed position with a portion of the handle member above the cover constituting a grip.

9, A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inwardly foldable inner closure members connected to opposed walls, a cover connected to one of the other pair of walls to close over said inner closure members and retainingly engageable therewith when the cover is closed, and a strap-like handle member having its ends merging integrally into the edges of said inner closure members and having end portions disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and between said inner closure members and said cover when the cover is closed and a grip portion disposed above the closed cover, said handle member being in supported engagement with the opposed edges of the cover whenthe cover is closed, the load on the handle member acting to urge the coengaging parts of the cover and the inner closure members into retaining engagement.

10. A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inwardly foldable inner closure members connected to opposed walls, a cover connected to one of the other pair of walls to close over said inner closure members and retainingly engageable therewith when the cover is closed, and a strap-like handle member having its ends merging integrally into the edges of said inner closure members and having end portions disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and between said inner closure members and said cover when the cover is closed and a grip portion disposed above the closed cover.

11. A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inwardly foldable inner closure members connected to opposed walls, a cover closeable over said inner closure members, and a strap-like handle member integrally and foldably connected at its ends to said inner closure members and having portions disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and between said inner closure members and said cover when the cover is closed and a grip portion disposed above the closed cover, 'said handle member being in supported engagement with the opposed edges of the cover when the cover is closed, the load on the handle member acting to urge the 'coengaging parts of the cover and the inner closure members into retaining engagement.

12. A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inwardly foldable inner closure members connected to opposed walls, a cover closeable over said inner closure members, and a strap-like handle member integrally and foldably connected at its ends to said inner closure members and having portions disposed with the planes thereof parallel to and between said inner closure members and said cover when the clover is closed and a grip portion disposed above the closed cover,

13. A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inner closure members hingedly connected to opposed walls and having inwardly foldable hinging flaps on their swinging edges, a cover connected to a third wall to close over said inner closure members, a strap-like handle having integral and diagonally disposed hinge connections to the front edges of said hinging flaps of said inner closure members, said handle having transverse folding scores therein spaced to correspond approximately to the length of the cover, said hinging flaps and said hinge connection for the handle thereto and said scores facilitating the positioning of the cover below the handle.

14. A carton comprising four walls and a bottom, inner closure members hingedly connected to opposed walls and having inwardly foldable hinging flaps on their swinging edges, a cover connected to a third wall to close over said inner closure members, a strap-like handle having integral and diagonally disposed hinge connections to the front edges of said hinging fiaps of said inner closure members, said hinging flaps and said hinge connection for the handle thereto facilitating the positioning of the cover below the handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 708,288 Winslow Sept. 2, 1902 1,434,359 Alland Nov. 7, 1922 2,124,955 Quagliotti July 26, 1938 2,296,126 Ullrich Sept. 15, 1942 2,297,100 Ely Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 257,908 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1949 

